AGL administer State funded energy concessions on behalf of a number of State Governments. The range of energy concessions and eligibility conditions vary from State to State. These Energy Concessions only apply to residential customers who hold eligible pension cards. Please refer to the state you reside in for further information (below) to find out if you are eligible.

Victoria

To be Eligible for a Victorian Energy Concession you will need to have a valid:
• Pensioner Concession Card ( issued by Centrelink or DVA)
• Health Care Card (except Child Disability, Foster Care)
• Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) Gold Card (except Dependant)

A concession can only be claimed if:

• the energy account is in the name of the concession cardholder;
• the supply address is the domestic primary residence of the cardholder; and
• your electricity account is billed on a domestic tariff.

The range of Energy Concessions available in Victoria are:

• Winter Energy Concession – Discount off electricity and gas bills issued during a six month period between May and November;
• From November 2008 the Medical Cooling Concession will replace the Summer Multiple Sclerosis Concession;
• From 1 July 2008 the Home Wise: Appliance and Infrastructure Grant will supersede the Capital Grant Scheme;
• Life Support Machines;
• Off Peak Concession;
• Utility Relief Grant Scheme;
• Group Homes Winter Energy;
• Electricity Transfer Fee Waiver;

For more information visit the Department of Humans Services website or call AGL.

South Australia

In South Australia, the concession scheme is administered by the Department of Families and Communities (DFC). Your application form must be sent to the DFC for processing.

To be Eligible for a SA Energy Concession you will need to have a valid:

• Pensioner Concession Card ( issued by Centrelink or DVA);
• Health Care Card (except Child Disability, Foster Care, Carers Allowance, Family Tax Benefit, Mobility Allowance and Low Income Allowance);
• Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) War Widow, TPI and EDA Gold Card;
• New Zealand or British War Widow Pension;
• SA State Concessions Card; or
• Commonwealth Seniors Health Card

A concession can only be claimed if:

• the energy account is in the name of the concession cardholder;
• the supply address is the domestic primary residence of the cardholder; and
• there is no one living with applicant who is not:
•  a spouse, partner or a dependant who has an income of $3000 or more per year which is not a benefit or pension from Centrelink of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.
For more information and application forms visit the Department of Families and Community website or call the DFC Concessions Hotline 1800 307 758.

Queensland

Energy Rebates

To be eligible for the Queensland Government Electricity and Reticulated Natural Gas Rebate you will need to have a valid:

• Pensioner Concession Card ( issued by Centrelink or DVA)
• Queensland Seniors Card
• Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) War Widow and TPI Gold Card

 A concession can only be claimed if:

• the energy account is in the name of the concession cardholder;
• the supply address is the domestic primary residence of the cardholder; and
• there is no one living with customer who is not:
• a spouse, or a dependant;
• other persons who hold a Queensland Government Seniors Card or Pensioner Concession Card;
• other persons who receive and income support payment from Centrelink, Family Assistance office or Department of Veterans’ Affairs who do not pay rent; and
• Other persons who live with the customer to provide care and assistance, and who do not pay rent.

Electricity Life Support

To be eligible for the Queensland Government Electricity Life Support Concession Scheme
You will need to have valid;

• Pensioner Concession Card ( issued by Centrelink or DVA)
• Queensland Seniors Card
• Health Care Card (issued by Centrelink)

Full details of eligibility for this concession are listed in the application form. Application forms are issued and processed by the Concessions Unit, Department of Communities.
 
For more information and application forms visit the Department of Communities website or call AGL.

Community Ambulance Cover

The Community Ambulance Cover Levy is the funding system for the Queensland Ambulance Service and provides every Queensland resident with ambulance cover anywhere in Australia.

The Levy is applied to most electricity accounts, with a number of exemptions available. Electricity retailers collect the levy on behalf of the Queensland Government. The Office of State Revenue administer this scheme.

Eligible cards for pensioner exemptions are:

• Pensioner Concession Card ( issued by Centrelink or DVA)
• Queensland Seniors Card;
• Repatriation Health Card – For All Conditions (DVA Gold Card)

If you receive the Queensland Government electricity rebate, your exemption will be automatically processed by AGL. Gold Card holders who do not receive the electricity rebate will need to apply for the exemption in writing (Form 5 – Pensioner Exemption).

Form more information and exemption forms visit the Queensland Government website or call AGL.

New South Wales

The NSW government provides the following energy concessions programs:
• Pensioner Energy Rebates
• Life Support Rebates
• Energy Accounts payment Assistance for those experiencing temporary financial difficulty.

Pensioner Rebate
The NSW Government provides an energy rebate of $112 per year for pensioners.
Pensioners can receive the rebate regardless of the income of other people who live with them.
Pensioners who are solely or jointly liable for utility bills at their principal place of residence are eligible for the rebate if they have a:
• have a Centrelink Pensioner Concession Card; or
• have a Department of Veterans Affairs Pensioner Concession Card; or
• receive a Department of Veterans' Affairs Pension for War Widows or War Widowers or a Disability Pension at the "totally and permanently incapacitated"(TPI) rate or "extreme disablement adjustment" (EDA) rate (as shown on the Repatriation Health Card i.e. the "Gold Card").

Life Support Rebates

If you require certain medical equipment in your home that is necessary to sustain your life, you may be entitled to a rebate on your electricity bill. List of equipment eligible include the following:
• PAP Devices
• Enternal Feeding Pump
• Phototherapy Equipment
• Home Dialysis
• Respirator
• Oxygen Concentrator

Eligible life support recipients are defined as those:
• whose name appears on the electricity account; and
• who have a medical certificate to verify the need for specific in-house medical equipment.

Energy Accounts Payment Assistance

The EAPA scheme helps financially disadvantaged people experiencing difficulty paying their electricity or gas bill because of crisis or emergency situation. The scheme ensures people stay connected to essential services during a financial crisis, and is not available on an ongoing basis.

The EAPA Scheme operates through a voucher system. Each voucher is worth $30.
EAPA vouchers are issued by participating Community Welfare Organisations (CWO’s) such as St Vincent de Paul, Salvation Army and Anglicare. The customer needs to apply to one of these organisations which will consider their claim and, if appropriate, provide assistance. The CWO assesses customer’s situations and determines each case based on individual circumstances.
Customers can use EAPA vouchers at their energy supplier’s payment centre, a post office or by mail. The supplier will credit the value of the voucher/s towards the account.

Note: Before contacting a CWO for EAPA vouchers, please contact AGL to find out what payment plans we offer. You may be able to agree on a payment plan with us to suit your financial situation.

For more information visit the NSW Department of Water and Energy website or call

Energy Concessions Co-ordinator 8.30am to 5.00pm Mon-Fri
Phone: (02) 8281 7712 

Energy Concessions Co-ordinator 8.30am to 5.00pm Mon-Fri
Phone: 1300 136 888
Email: information@dwe.nsw.gov.au

Or contact AGL.